The pick-and-roll is the most common play in basketball.
It’s also one of the toughest plays to defend.
Each coach has his method for defending it, including the Cavaliers’ Mike Brown.
Brown wants his big men to leave their man momentarily from the low post, flash out on the floor for a “hard show” to disrupt the offensive play, and then get back on defense. He’s discovered Cavs power forward Tristan Thompson has the athleticism, quickness and speed to excel in that area on defense.
“(He wants us to) be aggressive,” Thompson said. “Before Coach Brown, I was taught to show and come out there and stick your chest out. With Coach Brown, it’s a hard show to where it’s almost a double team. Go up and guard that guy and then take one or two slides and guard your man.”
If done correctly, it totally messes up the offensive execution.
Brown has been impressed with Thompson, a third-year forward.
“He’s so athletic and so long, he could be one of the best in the league at it, if not the best ever,” Brown said. “He’s got great feet, so he changes directions really well. He’s intelligent.”
What really impresses Brown about the 6-foot-9, 227-pound Thompson is his work ethic. He strives to be really good.
“The game of basketball, it’s not easy,” Brown said. “You have to have the mindset that you have to outwork your opponent. If you have that mindset, (coupled) with natural ability, it’s (possible to accomplish).
“He has a lot in the tool (chest) to go be one of the best, if not the best, while defending the post, helping from the weak side and defending the pick-and-roll.”
The Cavs’ defense has been decent in the preseason. It needs to keep making strides, starting with a 7 p.m. Monday game against Philadelphia at the Schottenstein Center on the Ohio State campus.
“He’s learning,” Brown said. “The team has learned pretty quickly. I’m pleased where we are. I’m cautiously optimistic about it. I’m happy with the progress the group has made so far.”
Brown said Thompson has the ability to be a standout defender in this league.
“He can defend anyone in the league he wants to,” Brown said. “He’s got all the tools for it.
“If he switches out onto a small, he’s got good enough feet to keep that guy in front of him and not let that guy dribble on by him.”
Thompson is oozing with confidence.
“I’m confident of my natural abilities and Coach is teaching me what it takes to be a great big in this league defensively,” he said. “I can develop to where I can guard anyone.”
Thompson, 22, is averaging 11.4 points and 7.0 rebounds in the preseason. He’s shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 68.2 percent from the foul line, both right-handed, of course.
He worked for almost an hour after practice on Sunday on his jump shooting. The Cavs rarely, if ever, call a play for him.
“There’s ways to get easy touches for you without a play being called for you,” he said. “With the guards we have in Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, they attract so much attention. We just have to go up and finish.”Quick shots
-- Irving’s TV commercial character ”Uncle Drew” will unveil his new Pepsi commercial on Oct. 28, Irving said. In the latest installment, he’s put together a entire team to go along with him and Kevin Love’s character.
-- Cavs center Andrew Bynum, who has yet to appear in a preseason game, is going on the trip with the team. He was out on the floor shooting with teammates after practice.

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About the Author

Bob has covered the Cavs for The News-Herald and Morning Journal since 1995. He's a graduate of Kent State University and New Philadelphia High School. Reach the author at rfinnan@news-herald.com
or follow Bob on Twitter: @BobCavsinsider.